When people having difficulty managing the stress in their lives, it can lead to relationship problems. If someone is stressed about work, extended family, or financial problems, it will impact their relationship if they do not learn ways to manage the stress. When people feel they are under a lot of stress, it impacts them […]
Many conflicts and disagreements result from people assuming they know what their partner is thinking. These assumptions can lead to a variety of feelings such as anger, hurt and disappointment. Many times, the person has misread what his partner’s thoughts truly are. Avoid miscommunications by talking openly and asking questions. It is fairly common for […]
Remember when you came home from work, microwaved a frozen meal for dinner, poured yourself a glass of wine, and spent the rest of the night on the couch watching TV? Like most parents, those days are long gone. Now, after a long day at work, you’re bombarded with attention-starved kids, a spouse who wants […]
Do you ever wonder why it sometimes feels so hard to “stop and smell the roses” on the pathway of life? People often find themselves wishing for the next chapter in life to begin, without taking time to savor what they DO have, and what is currently going on. For example, many people often tell […]
Exercise is proven to be essential to a healthy lifestyle. Exercise makes you feel better about yourself, increasing your self esteem and decreasing depression, anxiety, and stress. Not surprisingly, it can also improve your romantic relationships. Getting fit alongside your partner can lead to improved quality time together, more fun in the relationship, a deeper […]
So you’re contemplating being together with this wonderful person. She or he is everything you’ve ever wanted. You have compatible tastes and enjoy each other’s company. You click. And then somehow religion comes up. You’re X and s/he is Y, or no religion at all. You start discussing it and you find out either she […]
Just like we often teach children to take a time out to calm down, adults can benefit from taking a time out when they feel angry. Time outs can prevent arguments from escalating to the point where people say and do things they don’t mean. Time outs can stop the disagreement before things become abusive […]
1 out of 3 people have insomnia at some point in their lives, and out of those, 60% have a chronic condition. That’s a lot of people not sleeping! Many of us (including myself) have suffered bouts of insomnia here and there, but imagine that you have not gotten more than three hours of sleep […]
There are some important things about cigarettes that you might want to consider. We all know about cancer, emphysema, and the effects on other organs. That should be enough to stop people from smoking. So should the dangers of second-hand smoke for those close to you. We love those people and we don’t want to […]
Like many Americans, you may be working at a job you don’t exactly love. In fact, you may hate it. But, you can’t complain-at least you HAVE a job- with benefits no less. The typical signs of job dissatisfaction aren’t too hard to recognize: alot of complaining, wishing you had a different job, looking for another job, […]
Should our 5 year old daughter get her ears pierced? Should we let our 10 year old wear makeup? Should our 14 year old go on an overnight trip with a group of friends? Is our 13 year old ready to date? All of these questions have one thing common-tough decision making. You may worry that […]
How do you react when your spouse does something particularly nice? How about when they do something you do not like? Our responses have a big impact on the likelihood of these behaviors ending or continuing. For example, consider a husband who tends to spend time with his friends after work a few times per […]
Many couples find finances to be a big source of stress. It does not seem to matter how much money couples have, they often still disagree on how to spend it. Deciding how much money to save and how much money to spend can create problems when couples do not agree. Avoid ignoring financial problems. […]
As little girls we often think about our “prince charming” and daydream about our wedding day. We imagine falling in love with a tall, dark, and handsome man, spending hours and hours with him, and getting proposed to in the most romantic way imaginable. As we get older we start wondering when and if this […]
Conflict is inevitable. We may argue over something silly such as who should take the trash out, or something more serious like parenting differences. One thing is certain–arguments happen. It is normal for a marriage to have it’s share of conflict-the key is how we respond. Everyone has an arguing style-you may avoid conflict, always […]
Many people report wanting a better relationship with their partner. However, often times people are quick to point out changes their partner needs to make, instead of recognizing the changes that they can make to improve the marriage. Focusing on what changes you think your partner makes does nothing to improve the marriage, and often […]
You did your job. You raised your kids and sent them off to college. They had four glorious years away from home and finally graduated from college. You thought you were home free. But wait; they are moving back home! You finally got used to having an empty house and are enjoying the quiet time […]
Many couples report less time and less money than ever before. As a result, their relationship experiences less quality time together and fewer dates. Increased life stress tends to put more stress on relationships. When life becomes stressful, it is the most important thing to spend quality time with your partner. Quality time together does […]
So you just learned that your mate has been unfaithful. You feel hurt, angry, and most important, betrayed. All your trust has been violated. All your hopes and expectations are destroyed. Does it mean the end of the relationship? What about the kids? The pets? Not necessarily. So, what should you do? You’ll be angry […]
Cognitive behavioral therapy helps alleviate symptoms of depression, anxiety, and trauma. It can also help couples. Cognitive behavioral treatment addresses how people think as well as how they behave. Couples treatment that utilizes cognitive behavioral therapy helps each individual recognize distorted thought patterns. Perhaps one partner feels frustrated that their partner works long hours and […]
